# Leonardo DiCaprio’s Unforgiving Feuds in Hollywood
Leonardo DiCaprio, now a titan of Hollywood, has built a reputation not only for his acting prowess but also for holding grudges against those who cross him.
From early slights to betrayals by close friends, DiCaprio’s long memory and strategic retaliation have shaped his relationships with several actors, often with devastating consequences for their careers or personal ties.
One of the earliest conflicts was with Matt Damon, who famously underestimated DiCaprio, predicting the “kid” wouldn’t last a decade in the industry. This dismissive remark proved wrong as DiCaprio rose to become a ruthless power player. However, his most personal feud was with Tobey Maguire, a close friend from the 1990s “Pussy Posse” group of young actors.
Their bond shattered over *Don’s Plum*, a project initially meant as a short, improvised film among friends. When it was expanded into a feature without DiCaprio’s consent, he felt betrayed. Maguire, also fearing personal revelations in the footage, joined DiCaprio in fury.
Their combined influence ensured the film was dropped from Sundance and major distribution deals, effectively blacklisting the filmmakers. A legal battle ensued, with a settlement allowing limited release outside the US and Canada, but the friendship was irreparably broken.
DiCaprio’s tension with Mark Wahlberg began at a 1994 charity basketball game where Wahlberg’s trash talk humiliated him. When Wahlberg was considered for *The Basketball Diaries*, DiCaprio vehemently opposed it.
Only a powerful joint audition changed his stance, though he maintained a cold distance during filming. Despite later collaborating on *The Departed*, insiders note DiCaprio never truly forgave the initial disrespect, allowing Wahlberg into his orbit only for professional gain.
His clash with Claire Danes on the set of *Romeo + Juliet* (1996) stemmed from mutual disdain. At 21, DiCaprio found the 17-year-old Danes uptight, while she deemed him immature due to his pranks.
Their off-camera tension bled into filming, requiring multiple takes, despite Danes harboring unreciprocated feelings. The film’s success linked them as iconic lovers in public memory, but DiCaprio never worked with her again, reportedly steering projects away from her.
George Clooney delivered a public humiliation during a basketball game in Cabo San Lucas, where his team crushed DiCaprio’s squad 11-0 in three straight matches.
Clooney’s patronizing post-game comments about DiCaprio’s hype became Hollywood legend, a blow DiCaprio couldn’t counter due to Clooney’s established status. They’ve since kept a professional distance, never collaborating.
DiCaprio’s retaliation system is subtle yet lethal, using his network to exclude enemies from opportunities while maintaining a facade of professionalism.Actors like Christian Bale, who lost roles to DiCaprio, and Jack Black, who criticized his Oscar win, faced career setbacks. Even Jennifer Lawrence endured his passive-aggressive approach during filming due to clashing acting styles. In Hollywood, crossing DiCaprio means risking exile—his enmity a calculated tool to protect his reign at the top.